Comments on: Why Misleading Stats On David Wright Change Everything

By: Paul

Paul — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 19:05:20 +0000

I have been a Met’s fan all my life – but I have never felt so down about it as I do these days. You are probably thinking that it is because of the teams performance the last few years – but you would be wrong.
The real reason I am down on the team is because of the state of the fans. Growing up, I had equal exposure to the Mets and Yankees, but one thing that drew me to the Mets was that I liked the fans, and people much better. But lately, Mets fans are a bunch of whiny b*****. I basically see most of my fellow Mets fans as Yankee fans these days.
The situation with Madoff was devastating – but I look at is as a challenge to the team to compete with a lower payroll – certainly other teams have done it.
I used to enjoy coming to this website a lot more to get me excited about the team – but now I don’t look forward to reading the postings. Every time another team does something, there is an article on how the Mets missed out. Below you will find a bunch of internet trolls arguing back and forth.
Maybe this comes with the increased exposure – but seriously don’t people have better things to do. Although maybe this is a sign of the times, with such high un-employement, and ridiculous political leadership.
Is it wrong for me to ask that Mets fans be the best fans? I believe if the fans really believe in the team, the team will perform better in every aspect.

By: MetsMagic

MetsMagic — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 04:07:20 +0000

He posted a batting line that might have been inferior to that of Dan Murphy. His super slugger days are far behind him now. He strikes out 175-199 a year and is a liability at first.

By: Steve from Norfolk

Steve from Norfolk — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 00:32:55 +0000

Didn’t I read this article yesterday? Why put a current date on an old article and re-run it? This has been happening for a while. I personally don’t like having to scroll past old posts to get to the new stuff – I like the new atricles up front. Sorry if I’m nit-picking, but it just bugs me. I like the new content you post, it just feels like you’re trying to put on over on your readers with this reposting. I know I always scroll down to read any day’s posts I might have missed, as I’m sure your other loyal readers do.

Now, in the immortal words crafted by Stan Lee for the Fantastic Four — “Nuff said”.

By: Mike

Mike — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 20:48:38 +0000

I have to really agree with you on thiis Ed. I’ve been saying all along that Wright is a good ballplayer not a great one.

By: Reese

Reese — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 19:43:53 +0000

FWIW, Bagwell didn’t come up through the Astros farm system. He was received in trade from Boston for the immortal Larry Anderson.

By: NCMetFan

NCMetFan — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 19:22:11 +0000

I’m not sure what changed D Wright, was it HoJo as his hitting coach, the switch to Citi field, or just he felt he needed change but his swing developed a bigger upper cut and he became more focused on pulling the ball. His swing got long with his bat wrapping around the top of his head and pitchers began to beat him on inside fastballs. Kieth Hernandez has tactfully pointed this out on many at-bats. Then came the beaning and pitchers began to throw curves at his front shoulder and watch him flinch. It’s common for D Wright to flinch and watch a curve break over for a strike. He has gone from a tough out that goes to right field when behind in the count to a free swinging K master. I hope this was induced by Citi field, we’ll find out this season. If is wasn’t then hopefully the Mets will be as deliberate with him as they have been with Reyes in the off-season (or open to a trade at the trade deadline). Between Wright & Reyes I’d take Reyes so in my opinion it will be a step backwards to let Reyes go and then resign D Wright, especially if he has another K filled season. If he hits 25 – 30 HRs, his BA is .260 and his OBP is .360 that would be good but I’d still prefer the 18-23 HR guy with a .300 BA and .390 OBP that singles in the runner from second or hits a sac fly to get a guy in from third as opposed to K, K, K, K with the big upper cut. I still hold out hope the Mets will resign Reyes for about $15M per year for 5 or 6 years and Wright reaches one of the two scenarios described and has his option picked up in 2013. Wright’s edge is that he is likely to play 150 games/season while with Reyes, 125 games is more likely.

By: Vinny B

Vinny B — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 18:56:32 +0000

i don’t like Howard, but to say he gets recognition for “nothing” is ridiculous. From 06-09 he averaged 50 HR’s a year. And has hit over 30 HR’s and over 100 RBI in every full season that he’s played.

I hate him, but I’m not going to say he’s done “nothing” when he’s clearly a very good baseball player, even though he plays for a team I don’t like.

By: Drew

Drew — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 18:41:52 +0000

Wait, I think I get this article now. It’s so obvious, it’s right in the title!

“Why Misleading Stats on David Wright Change Everything”

We should’ve known it was a sarcastic article with purposely-misleading stats in an effort to show how absurd it is that we all debate whether David Wright is the Messiah or call him the worst third baseman in history! It’s a social commentary!

Now that I understand the sarcasm, I can enjoy the article. Thanks!

By: Alex68

Alex68 — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 18:23:28 +0000

2005 and 2006 wright was a good player. then in 2007 wright became arguably top 5 player to MVP type calyber player.. then it came the 2008 season, the whole 243 with RISP and murphy at 3rd. it has not being the same since…

By: LJ

LJ — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 18:17:12 +0000

And I think if it was just the team around him and nothing else at all you would have seen him have a much better April 2009. Not that a player can never slump but with the 27 K in 21 games it was clear there were problems and ones that never really went away….even before the injuries to other guys hit. And then comparing 2010 to 2011..Wright was much better in 2010 than he was in 2011…but most guys on the team were much better in 2011 than they were in 2010

By: Michael Mets

Michael Mets — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 18:13:07 +0000

I agree completely with RealityChuck who posted the stats below. You can’t just look at a franchise’s all-time leaders and compare them. Biggio played forever, Bagwell has over 1000 more games than Wright. The only real comparison is a per game ratio.

Pete Rose has the most hits, Cobb is second. Rose was a minor leaguer compared to Cobb (.362 BA). He just had more at bats. All of those guys have more at bats (complete careers in Houston) than Wright (partial career in NY). Ed Kranepool (1853 games) has more hits for the Mets than Wright or Reyes, is he better than them?

Pretty much any team would like to have David Wright at 3B.

Jeff Bagwell — 1529 RBIs in 2150 games — .71 RBI/Game
Craig Biggio — 1175 RBIs — .41 RBI/Game
Lance Berkman — 1090 RBIs – .68 RBI/game
Jose Cruz — 942 RBIs – .50 RBI/Game
Bob Watson — 782 RBIs — .57 RBI/game
Caesar Cedeno — 778 RBIs — .51 RBI/ Game
David Wright – 725 RBIs – .65 RBI/Game – 1106 games

By absolute totals, Wright ranks 7th; but he’s third with Bagwell and Berkman for RBIs/Game. The main factor is that he played in far fewer games than all of the people in front of him.

By: LJ

LJ — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 18:10:07 +0000

I don’t dispute that there is some mental effect to it. And maybe effects some particular AB in certain situations. I just don’t buy into the theory that a hitter becomes a great hitter solely based on who is around him. I don’t think a guys OPS go up 100 points just b/c he has good hitters in the lineup. And most studies that have been done show that lineup really doesn’t have that much of an effect.

And not that it matters, but there were times Wright hit in front of those guys. He moved in front of them sometime in 2007. But anyway, as far as Beltran and Delgado always being on base and that being a reason Wright was pitched to so much…not really true. In 2005, Wright was the only guy with a good OBP…Beltran’s was terrible, Floyd’s was decent but nothing special, and Wright had nobody hitting behind him. And in 2007, Wright’s best year Delgado’s was awful and Beltran’s was nothing special. Its not like those guys were constantly on base..

By: LJ

LJ — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 18:09:19 +0000

By: Alex68

Alex68 — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 18:00:30 +0000

LJ, september 11th, EVERY new yorker were watching that game or at the stadium, sunday night, pressure moment, and the man had 3 opportunitites to end the game, instead, he failed ALL 3 TIMES!!!!!! it had nothing to do with standing or anything, more like carrying new york to a victory for new yorker to celebrate on what’s consider one of the most important day in America history, especially to new york

By: LJ

LJ — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 17:53:28 +0000

Completely disagree. If Wright was having a more typical season and/or not slumping, I don’t think those IBBs happen. I think Wright’s overall year being awful and also Duda playing well at the time of that IBB had a lot more to do with what happened that some mythical “clutch” thing. Besides the Mets were awful and completely out of contention during those games…its not like there was really much pressure. Those Sept games were probably the least pressure of any during the year.

Wright’s numbers on the year were pretty similar regardless of the situation. If anything, he was actually better with runners on than he was with the bases empty, better in high leverage spots than he was in medium leverage or low leverage spots, and better in those late/close spots than he was overall.

By: Metsie

Metsie — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 17:49:16 +0000

No LJ no one said they don’t try to get them out..
What it means to have a good hitter behind you is that they fewer ways to get you out.

In the case of Wright (who was behind Beltran and Delgado not in front) it means they can play around and nibble on Wright because there is no harm in walking him. There is no big risk in walking Wright since there is no one behind him to drive him in.

That allows the pitcher to nibble and try to tease Wright into hitting a bad pitch.

When he had Beltran and Delgado in front they would play that game with them and then try to get Wright out without the ability to walk him because Beltran or Delgado were already on base. That meant better pitches, more strikes and more strikes means better pitches for Wright to hit!

With Bay behind him they could easily pitch around Wright and hope he would swing and get himself out on bad pitches.

If he had good hitters in front or behind him they would be less able to do that!
If he would not press and lay off the bad pitches it would help also. Wright does get some of the blame here! Alex isn’t totally wrong!
Just that if there are no good hitters around you then the Pitcher has more options to go about pitching to Wright because he is the only key batter.
And if all you really have to worry about is that one guy then it makes it easy to deal with him without hurting yourself! A Walk is better than a double in that situation!

By: Alex68

Alex68 — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 17:37:58 +0000

LJ, i really doubt that’s what it was, teams now know he’s a choker, put pressure on him to deliver, yet many times, he fails

By: LJ

LJ — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 17:21:20 +0000

Or it could just be that teams were aware he wasn’t having a very good year, was coming off injury and was slumping at the time. That doesn’t mean he was never good or that he’ll never be good again. There were times over the years where players (including Wright) were IBBed to get to Beltran and/or Delgado.

By: Alex68

Alex68 — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 16:43:38 +0000

when other teams start walking pagan and a 220 at the time hitter in lucas duda, is hard for me to think this man is respected let alone the man we all thought he was. how can you walk pagan to get pitch to you if you’re an elite hitter?? in the same game nonetheless… and of course, both times the man failed. so, other teams managers and players see this guy for what he is, except his legion of mets fans.

By: LJ

LJ — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 16:37:25 +0000

I don’t really buy that explanation. Its not like teams don’t try to get hitters out just b/c they have good hitters behind them. If anything they might be more concerned about making sure they get a guy out if he has good hitters behind him. If he’s alone in the lineup they probably aren’t that concerned about walking him or giving up a couple hits b/c they arent all that concerned about the guys behind him driving him in. But mainly a guy doesn’t turn into a .900 OPS hitter just b/c there are other good hitters in the lineup. And if a guy is a .900 OPS guy you certainly are aware of him. Its not like Wright was ever hidden.

Besides Beltran was bad in 2005 and yet Wright was still great. And Delgado was awful in 2007 and Wright had his best yr. And both those guys did miss time with injuries even pre-2009 and Wright was still great. And Wright was pretty terrible in April 2009…that was his worst month of that season (outside of Sept when he came back from the beaning) and that was when everyone else was still healthy. That was when all the strikeouts and the big issues started. He actually played great after Delgado and Reyes got hurt. I think maybe losing Beltran and then leaving Wright as the only hitter in the lineup did probably made him press a bit, but I don’t think that was the only factor at all. I think if anything its more of a mental thing, than him getting “exposed” or teams suddenly trying harder to get him out.